Tampa Bay Rays left-hander Shane McClanahan (back) threw two "ups" in a simulated game last Thursday, Aug. 6, and is scheduled for another sim game of three "ups" in the coming days, according to president of baseball operations Erik Neander. McClanahan has been on the 15-day injured list since July 31 with mid-back tightness. Barring a setback, he could return to Tampa's starting rotation in mid-August, per MLB.com. If McClanahan looks good in his next sim game this week, the Rays may allow him to return to the big-league roster without going on a minor-league rehab assignment, although that would make him much more of a risk in fantasy in his first start back with the team. The 29-year-old southpaw and former first-rounder from the University of South Florida missed all of the 2024 and 2025 seasons due to multiple Tommy John procedures. In his return this year, he has gone 9-6 with a solid 3.09 ERA (3.35 FIP) and 1.12 WHIP with 91 strikeouts and 35 walks in 99 innings across 20 starts. McClanahan's strikeout rate is at a career-low 22.2%, but all things considered, it has been an encouraging return in his fourth MLB campaign.

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Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said on Monday that catcher Will Smith (neck) could take on-field batting practice sometime this week, according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. It is a "big week" ahead of Smith ramping up his rehab. A nagging neck injury has kept the Dodgers' starting catcher out since June 11, but the 31-year-old veteran appears to be making some progress towards a return. Smith is still a ways from his return to the major-league roster, though, and the Dodgers have no real reason to rush him back. He will need a minor-league rehab assignment before returning, and he probably won't be a realistic option to return to the Dodgers' starting lineup until sometime in September for the last month of the regular season. Smith, a former first-rounder in 2016 from the University of Louisville, has played in only 52 games in 2026 in his eighth year in the league, slashing .249/.338/.382 with six homers and 23 RBI after being named an All-Star in each of his previous three seasons. He's stashed in 68% of Yahoo leagues, but he may only have a few weeks to produce for fantasy managers before the year is up.

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The Arizona Diamondbacks announced that shortstop Geraldo Perdomo (knee) exited Monday night's game early against the division-rival Colorado Rockies with soreness in his left knee. Before leaving, Perdomo went 0-for-2 at the plate as the leadoff man with a walk and a run scored. He was replaced at the 6 in Arizona by Ildemaro Vargas to start the fifth inning at Chase Field. The 26-year-old Dominican infielder's knee injury looks to be a day-to-day issue, but fantasy managers will want to check back on Tuesday to see if he's active for the second game of the series in the desert against Colorado. Perdomo hasn't been able to keep things going in 2026 after he posted a career-high 20 home runs with 100 RBI and 27 stolen bases in 161 regular-season games in 2025 in his fifth year in the big leagues. Going into Monday's contest in Arizona, Perdomo was slashing .245/.359/.376 with a .735 OPS, only nine home runs, 42 RBI, 17 stolen bases, and 56 runs scored in his 115 games and 498 plate appearances. The D-backs can ill-afford to lose Perdomo as they compete for a National League wild-card spot down the stretch, even though he has been mostly underwhelming in 2026.

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Kansas City Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino (hand) is scheduled to begin a minor league rehab assignment on Tuesday with Triple-A Omaha. Pasquantino is working his way back from wrist soreness that has kept him sidelined since July 29. If everything goes well, Pasquantino should only require a few minor league games before being ready to return to Kansas City. This season, Pasquantino is slashing .232/318/.345 with 6 home runs, 33 RBI, and four steals in 79 games. It has been a down year for the left-handed slugger, but he could be worth snagging for fantasy managers looking for help in the power department.

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Boston Red Sox catcher Adley Rutschman (wrist) is expected to be activated from the 10-day injured list ahead of Tuesday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays, according to Chris Cotillo. It looks like Rutschman is nearing his highly-anticipated team debut after being acquired in a blockbuster move at the trade deadline. The 28-year-old figures to get the bulk of the playing time behind the plate, which means reduced roles for Connor Wong and Jake Rogers. Rutschman has been out since July 20 due to wrist inflammation, but is finally nearing his return. Fantasy managers looking for help at the catcher spot should check the waiver wire to see if Rutschman is available.

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Athletics infielder Zack Gelof (knee) was activated off the 10-day Injured List ahead of Monday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays. Gelof is ready to play after being sidelined since July 10 due to a right knee laceration. He'll cover third base and bat ninth versus right-hander Freddy Peralta on Monday. Gelof figures to be the everyday third baseman down the stretch of the season. This season, Gelof is slashing .273/.327/.476 with 11 home runs, 29 RBI, and eight steals in 67 games. He could be an interesting deep league option given his power and speed upside.

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Texas Rangers starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi (elbow) was placed on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to August 9, on Monday. Eovaldi will head to the shelf due to right posterior elbow inflammation. The good news is that it's not UCL-related, which is an encouraging sign. The assumption is that Eovaldi will undergo more testing in the coming days. Fantasy managers should stay tuned for a better timetable on his status. This season, Eovaldi owns a 4.21 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and a 137/32 K/BB ratio across 132.2 innings of work this season. Cal Quantrill will get the start in Eovaldi's place against the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday

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Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper (knee) remains in the starting lineup for Monday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals. Harper continues to play despite dealing with knee soreness that has worsened since moving to the outfield, according to Charlotte Varnes. Harper fouled a ball off his knee before the All-Star break, and it hasn't stopped bothering him. He'll be at the designated hitter spot for the second time in three games on Monday. The Phillies will move things around and have Derek Hill in right field while Kyle Schwarber gets the start at first base. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor this situation closely. For now, Harper is playing, but he might need a stint on the Injured List.

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Toronto Blue Jays corner infielder Kazuma Okamoto (knee) was scratched from Monday's starting lineup against the division-rival Boston Red Sox due to a left-knee contusion, according to the team. After being called up from Triple-A Buffalo, Charles McAdoo will start at third base for Toronto and bat seventh against Red Sox veteran right-hander Sonny Gray. It doesn't sound like Okamoto's knee injury is all that serious, so hopefully he can avoid going on the injured list. Fantasy managers will want to check back on Tuesday to see if he's active for Game 2 of the series in Toronto. Overall, it's been a very strong first year in the big leagues for Okamoto, who comes into Monday's series opener hitting .225/.299/.429 with a .728 OPS, 24 home runs, 70 RBI, 61 runs, and a stolen base across his 116 games and 475 plate appearances. The 30-year-old Japanese right-handed slugger has a strikeout rate over 30%, though, and has been swinging and missing more in the second half of the season. Still, he leads Toronto in homers, RBI, and runs scored, and remains a must-start in most fantasy baseball leagues when he's in the lineup.

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Miami Marlins pitching prospect Karson Milbrandt has given up 11 combined earned runs in his last two August starts for Triple-A Jacksonville to bring his record to 0-5 in his last six starts. The right-handed pitcher is clearly talented but has found the going tough at Jacksonville. In Double-A Pensacola prior to his promotion, Milbrandt was 4-1 with a 1.34 ERA and 1.00 WHIP, but he's yet to find a win at Jacksonville. Despite his struggles, Milbrandt is ranked as the No. 4 overall prospect for the Marlins and has four 55-graded pitches in his fastball, curveball, slider, and cutter. Milbrandt might need to work through his struggles that he is experiencing in his first taste of Triple-A. He is still a highly ranked prospect and could debut for Miami at some point next season.

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Miami Marlins prospect Kemp Alderman is having a rough August so far for Triple-A Jacksonville. In seven games this month, Alderman is hitting just .125 with one homer and five RBI. Altogether he is 3-for-24 at the plate as he's cooled down a bit from a good, solid season at age 23 at Jacksonville. In 282 at bats for Jacksonville, Alderman has 15 homers and 48 RBI while hitting .277. With the ability to play first base or the outfield, the right-handed hitter could potentially see time with the Marlins. The Marlins have a lot of depth at first base and the outfield but could look to Alderman for a potential spark despite his recent downturn. Alderman is graded out with 60-grade power and is the No. 7 prospect in the Marlins system. It could be worth taking a look at him just in case he is given a big-league opportunity late this season

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Chicago Cubs pitching prospect Jaxon Wiggins is looking for results at Triple-A Iowa and was saddled with a tough loss on Tuesday with five-earned runs and six walks in 2 2/3 innings. Wiggins has had a tough time all season dealing with right elbow inflammation and it has caused some inconsistency issues for the right-hander. At 24 years of age, Wiggins is knocking on the door for a major league debut but this year might be tricky for him as he has dealt with the injury and hasn't seen the dynamic results he is used to seeing. He is getting back in the mix though at Triple-A and is gaining valuable Innings. It might be best however to leave him off the stash radar as he works his way back and gains more confidence with his right throwing arm. Right now he is best left on waiver wires in redraft leagues with an eye toward dynasty leagues.

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Seattle Mariners prospect Lazaro Montes is tearing it up at Triple-A Tacoma this month with four homers and nine RBI in seven games in August with a .367 average. Montes has hit with power all season between Double-A Arkansas and Tacoma with 32 homers and 83 RBI combined between both levels of the minors. At age 21, he is proving his 65-grade power is justified and might be worth a look in the outfield for Seattle before the season is over. The left-handed hitter hit 25 homers at Arkansas before adding seven at Tacoma in 26 games. He has proven he can hit at every level and is worth a look on waiver wires as a stash candidate. The Mariners could use his power bat at the big-league level and it isn't out of the question that they give him his MLB debut.

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Pittsburgh Pirates rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin (finger) suffered a torn left ring-finger sagittal band on a diving play on July 5 and was expected to be in a splint for six weeks. Griffin has been participating in baseball activities, playing catch and swinging with his top hand, according to MLB.com. He has also been standing in against the Trajekt machine. Griffin was originally placed on the 10-day injured list on July 7 and was moved to the 60-day IL on July 11. He still has a ways to go before potentially returning to the major-league roster, but barring a setback, the shortstop phenom will have a chance to be back in early September. The 20-year-old former ninth overall pick in 2024 is still rostered in over 60% of Yahoo leagues, even though he might only help fantasy managers for the last couple of weeks of the 2026 season. Before suffering a finger injury, Kriffin was batting .276/.332/.404 with a .736 OPS, five homers, 25 RBI, 20 steals, and 35 runs scored across his first 225 at-bats. He's going to be a high-end, five-category contributor for a long time to come as long as he stays healthy.

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The New York Mets placed right-handed closer Devin Williams (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list on Monday with a strained right shoulder, according to Jorge Castillo of ESPN. Williams missed time recently with arm fatigue, but now he'll miss at least another two weeks with a shoulder injury. In what has been a lost season for the Mets, fantasy managers should not be surprised if Williams is eventually shut down for the rest of the year. With reliever Luke Weaver now in Pittsburgh, Daniel Duarte could be the team's favorite for saves with Williams on the shelf. Duarte recorded his second career save last week when Williams was unavailable to pitch, and he's been solid with a 1.17 ERA, 0.78 WHIP, and 13 strikeouts this year, albeit in a small sample size of only 15 1/3 innings pitched. The Mexican right-hander only has two career saves in four MLB seasons. Along with Duarte, former starter Kodai Senga could be an option for the Mets late in games with saves on the line.

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San Diego Padres right-hander Nick Pivetta (elbow) played catch again on Sunday at Petco Park after leaving his first minor-league rehab outing last week with Single-A Lake Elsinore with a right-elbow issue, according to AJ Cassavell of MLB.com. The Padres have paused Pivetta's rehab assignment. They have tentative plans for Pivetta to throw a bullpen session, but it's unclear when that might happen. After a career year in 2025 in his first season with the Padres, the 33-year-old veteran has been on the injured list since April 14 with a right flexor strain. It sounds like the Padres are hoping to get Pivetta back before the end of the regular season, but for fantasy purposes, it's probably unlikely that we'll see him back in SD's starting rotation before the end of August. Pivetta is running out of time to help fantasy managers in 2026, but he's still rostered in almost 70% of Yahoo leagues despite having not pitched since April.

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Boston Red Sox second baseman/outfielder Kristian Campbell has been heating up at Triple-A Worcester and could be on the verge of returning to the big-league roster for the first time since his rookie season in 2025. Campbell, a fourth-rounder in 2023 from the Georgia Institute of Technology, hit .223/.319/.345 with a .664 OPS, six homers, 21 RBI, 24 runs scored, and two stolen bases in 67 games as a rookie last year after being signed to an eight-year, $60 million extension last April. The 24-year-old struggled in spring training this year, though, and has spent the entire 2026 season at Worcester, where he has hit .250/.377/.351 with a .728 OPS, five home runs, 38 RBI, five stolen bases, and 39 runs scored in 90 games across 384 plate appearances. After recording three hits for the WooSox on Sunday, Campbell is batting .269 (7-for-26) with a homer and five RBI in seven games so far in August. With eligibility at second base and the outfield, Campbell is a stash candidate in deeper fantasy baseball leagues ahead of his potential return to the big leagues for the last month and a half of the regular season.

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Toronto Blue Jays outfielder George Springer (shoulder) is serving as the designated hitter and is batting cleanup for Monday's series opener against the division-rival Boston Red Sox and right-hander Sonny Gray, per MLB.com. Springer was held out of the final two games of the series over the weekend against the Philadelphia Phillies due to a left-shoulder injury, but he's back in the starting nine to begin the new week against a pitcher with whom he is very familiar. The 36-year-old has hit .296 with a .943 OPS, two home runs, and five RBI in 27 career at-bats against Gray. Fantasy managers are hoping that will help Springer get out of a funk at the plate. In his first nine games in August, he's gone 6-for-27 (.222) with a .633 OPS, zero home runs, a double, a triple, two RBI, three runs, one steal, three walks, and five RBI in 30 plate appearances. The four-time All-Star turned back the clock in 2025 with 32 homers, 84 RBI, and 18 steals during the regular season, but he has come back to Earth in 2026 with a .234/.317/.396 slash line, 12 homers, 36 RBI, and eight steals in 88 games played.

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Boston Red Sox catcher Adley Rutschman (wrist) will travel with his new team to Toronto for a series against the division-rival Blue Jays, according to Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald. However, he will not be activated from the 10-day injured list on Monday. Rutschman will run through a series of workouts with the team, and the club will assess the next steps from there. The 28-year-old switch-hitting backstop has yet to debut with his new team after the BoSox acquired him in a blockbuster trade last Monday from the Baltimore Orioles, but he's nearing a return from the IL. He started a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Worcester on Saturday and has gone 1-for-5 at the plate with a double, two RBI, and two runs scored in his two games. Depending on how his workout goes on Monday, Rutschman could make his debut as Boston's primary catcher as early as Tuesday at the Rogers Centre. Rutschman has been battling injuries the last two years and only has eight home runs with a .251 average (62-for-247) in 2026, but he will be a massive upgrade at the catching position in Boston and could finish out the year strong for fantasy managers if he's completely healthy. He's rostered in just over 70% of Yahoo leagues.

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The Arizona Diamondbacks designated veteran right-handed reliever Paul Sewald for assignment on Monday, according to John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports. Sewald started the year strong by converting 17 of his 18 save opportunities while striking out 29 and walking just seven in 26 1/3 innings pitched in his first 29 relief outings, but he fell out of favor quickly in the desert in the back of the bullpen with a 12.79 ERA, 1.89 WHIP, and eight home runs allowed in his last 12 2/3 innings pitched. The 36-year-old 10-year veteran was removed from Arizona's closer role, and now he's off the roster completely. The D-backs are back to a full-on closer-by-committee setup going forward, involving Brandyn Garcia, Kevin Ginkel, and Juan Morillo. Ginkel picked up the team's most recent save on Sunday, and he has the most experience with 17 career saves in his eight years in the majors. Sewald, who is 2-5 in 2026 with a 6.23 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 24 saves, and a 44:9 K:BB in 39 innings, could be an interesting waiver pickup for a team looking for veteran depth in their bullpen to close out the season.

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